Machine base



Feb. 20, 1934. w, E. SHARP 1,947,501

MACHINE -BASE Filed May 22. 1929 30/5 /25 26 L28 50 3513 g8 24 u @www Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to machine bases and resilient means adapted to be positioned therebeneath for deadening the vibration which would normally be transmitted from said machine to a 51 supporting floor and, more particularly, to a rubber mat or pad adapted to be placed beneath the base of an exercising or massaging machine for deadening the vibration transmitted from said machine as well as preventing said machine from j creeping from position on a supporting floor.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a machine base and associated resilient pad or mat connected to the bottom thereof by having the associated parts 115,' interlocked with respect to one another by projections extending from one into corresponding pockets in the other. 1

Another object of my inventionv is the provision of a metal base for an exercising or mas- 201 saging machine formed with an upper supporting web and depending rigidifying iianges and a rubber pad for connection to the bottom of said base by upstanding lug or boss portions interlocked with respect to said depending flanges.

A further object of my invention is to provide a base for an exercising or massaging machine of such design that it is adapted for interlocking with an associated rubber pad disposed therebeneath. Y A still further object of my invention is the provision of a rubber pad particularly adapted to be disposed beneath the base of an exercising or massaging machine and interlocked with respect thereto for the deadening of vibration and the 35.'. prevention of creeping.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

' Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of an exercising or massaging machine with the base thereof shown in vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a plan of the resilient mat disposed beneath the base of the machine shown in Figure 1, a fragmentary portion of said base being illustrated in position on said mat.

Figure 3 isv a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the resilient mat on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the Vdirection of the arrows,

the base associated therewith being shown in dot-dash lines.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the mat or pad shown in Figure 2 looking from the left.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the 60 line 5 5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the-arrows.

' "Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 6 6 of Figure 2 looking in the direction'of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there is shown an exercising or massaging machine 1 comprising a base 2 preferably formed as a casting with an upper web 3 upon which, or 70 upon lugs or ribs 4 thereon, rests a housing 5 preferably formed as a casting and serving to enclose power means and associated mechanism (not shown) for vibrating the rods 6 to which are connected a massaging or exercising belt 7 75 adapted to surround an individual or patient standing on the base 2 for applying treatment thereto. Although I have illustrated conventionally a machine of the type described and claimed in `my co-pending application Serial No. 8O 325,538, filed December 12, 1928, it will be understoodvthat I do not wish to be limited to this showing as the base 2 and the associated resilient pad S'ftherebeneath may be employed for supporting other types of exercising machines and certain features of my invention are adapted for general use in connection with the bases of maehines in general.

c In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the base 2 comprises the upper web 3 with a nor- 90 mally horizontal portion 9 which underlies the housing 5 and is preferably formed with a depending convolution or pocket 10 adapted to receive any oil or grease drippings from the mechanism. Said web 3 preferably slopes slightly away 95 from the housing 5 so that the portion 11 thereof, upon which the individual undergoing treatment stands, is slightly inclined to provide a more comfortable place to stand when leaning against the massaging belt 7. The sloping portion 11 of the web 3 is preferably formed with an upwardly opening pocket 12 adapted to receive a rubber or resilient mat 13 upon which the patient stands, and is desirably wider than the housing supporting portion.

In order to provide a base which is not unduly heavy, yet which is sufficiently rigid and strong for the purpose, the web 3 thereof preferably has a peripheral flange 14 depending from the edgev thereof and preferably flaring slightly out- 1.19

wardly, as shown particularly in Figures 1, and 6. For further rigidifying the web intermediate the side portions of the flange 14, I preferably provide a longitudinal depending rib or ange 15 preferably disposed along the longitudinal center line of the base from the depending embossment nearly to the opposite end of the patient supporting portion of the base. Radiating from the embossment 10, I preferably provide in addition to the flange or rib transverse ribs 16' connecting with the flange 14 and diagonally disposed ribs 17 likewise extending between the embossment 10 and the flange 14. Disposed on either. side of the rib or flange 15 and preferably parallel therewith are depending flanges or ribs l8'prefierably extending from the flange 16 anditapering in depth like the flange 15 to gradually merge into the web 3, as illustrated vparticularly in Figv ure 2, said flanges 18 being preferably shorter than the flange 15. For transverse connection between the flanges 15 and 18 and the. sidesof the peripheral flange 14, I preferably provide transverse flanges or ribs 19, 20 and.21.at the wide part of the base 2, said flanges 19 and 20 in the present embodiment connecting the flanges 14, 15 and 18,. and the flange 21 connecting the flanges 14 and 15. The ends of saidxflange2l preferably nare or increase in width wherethey merge into the flange. 14, as indicated at `22. A similar enlargement of the endsof theribs 19 may also be provided, as indicated. at 23;

The aforedescribed base may, if desired,A be supported directly on a fioor and is admirably adapted for supporting theV associatedhousing 5 and included mechanism. In order, however, to deaden thevibration from such amach'ine as represented, I preferably apply' the mat v. orJpad 8, which is desirably formed of rubber. of like material, beneath the. base 2 and cement itin place by any desired adhesive means. In'` order to eccnomize material, said pad ispreferably formed as a rim which engagesy the periphery only of the base. In order to provide for the firm connection between said padrandf base;. in' addition to the adhesive, I preferably form said members of complementary construction, that is, the pad is formed with upstanding bosses y'or lugs which fit in the. correspondingrcored.boxes or pockets between, and embrace, the depending flanges or ribs on the base of the machine.`

More specifically, the present embodiment 1 of my rubber pad 8 comprises anat lower yweb `pore tion 24 which is adapted to rest directly onfthe floor or other supporting means for. the machine and upstanding lugs designatedgenerally bythe reference character 25 fitting between'the de.` pending flanges of the base. In detail, theup'-1 standing lugs of the present embodimentinvolve' anend lug 26 generallyU-shaped in plan withthe bend of the U-shaped portion extended lto engage the downward Aembossrnent 10 andthe arms of the U engaging the curvedportion'` of the peripheral flange 14 directly beneath.A theffvi-V brating arms 6 of the machine. The' armsy of. said U-shaped boss 26 are also preferablyzextended to engage the ribs 17 and formedwith pockets 27 for receiving the heads or nuts of bolts adapted for ccnnectingthe base 2 andihousing 5 of the machine. On either side of vsaidboss 26, I provide bosses 28 spaced from. the boss V26 sui'-, ciently to receive the flanges of the base therebetween. Said bossesare ofsuch shape as tofit between the peripheral fiange 14 yand thecorre-` sponding flanges 16 and 17, one of said Abosses being formed with a projection 29 adapted to en gage the corresponding side of the pan 1G. Such a projection is omitted from the other boss in order to facilitate application of the pad to the base and both bosses may be provided with pockets 27 like the bosses 26.

Next to the bosses 28, I provide a pair'of relatively large approximately triangular shaped bosses 30 fitting between the flanges 14, 16, 18 and 19 and shaped to conform snugly with the pockets providedztherebetween. Next to the bosses 30, I provide generally rectangular bosses 31 fitting between the flanges 14, 19 and 20 and provided with depressed portions 32 adapted to receive the corresponding downwardly embossed portion 12 of the base which receives the pad 13. If desired, pocketsV 33 may also be provided for receiving corresponding bosses 34 formed on the lower surfacer of theweb 3 of the base. Next to the bosses 31, I provide bosses 35 formed in a corresponding manner to fit between the flanges 14, 20 and 21/anduthe enlarged .portion 22 thereof and to underliev the sloping portion 11 of the web 3 and,` therefore, being of slightly lessdepth than the bossesf31. Disposedl next to said bosses 35 are bosses 36 of la contour to adapt them for reception betweenthedownwardly embossment portion 12of Vthe'web, the portion 22 and the flange 14.; At thef extremeV end of the sloping portion l1 of the base, I provide a long boss or upstanding rib 37 adapted to engage the lower surface of saidnweb portion"v 11 adjacent the flange 14 and disposed between said flange and the downwardly embossed portion 12 of'said web. As with the bosses 31, the bosses 35, 36 and 37 may be correspondingly pocketed to receive bosses 34 dependingvfrom the lower surface ofthe sloping web portion 11 of the base 2.

Fromthe foregoing description taken in connection with `the accompanyingdrawing, it will be seen that I have provided a base andassociated'rubber or resilient pad adapted: to support mechanism and so designed that one interlocks with respect to the other, whereby the same are adapted to bek cemented together in interlocking relation lone withrthe other, or the base may merely-rest uponthe resilient pad, the vrelation beingfmaintain'ed by the weight of the base and supported,V mechanism andA the interlocking between the upstanding bosses on the pad receivedv in'corresponding downwardly opening pockets in theffbase.

Although. I have described a particular embodiment of my invention in connection with a particular machinait will be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the showing which` is merely iIIuStratiVeVascertain features of myinvention are Vadapted for general .use in connection with pads for underlying machinery. supporting bases.

Having now described my. invention, I claim:

1. A base for an exercising machine compris'- ing an upper web portion relativelynarrow at one end and formed for connection with amechanism' housing of said machine, widened out at the other endand sloping away from said' narrow portionto provide a` platform for supporting apatientfundergoing treatment, the peripheryofsaid web' being'fprovided with a depending Aflange adapted to engage supporting means, the web between 'said' peripheral flangebeing rrigidifled by 'a l plurality of longitudinally extending ribs depending therefrom...intermediate thev sides ofl said :peripheralflange and intersected` by. a plurality of transev versely Aextendingrib portions disposed `between the endportions lof said .peripherals flange.

2.Afrubberpad adapted to beI disposed be heath the base of a machine comprising a flat rim portion adapted to engage the periphery of said base, and a plurality of upstanding lug portions inwardly of said rim portion adapted to engage the inner face of a peripheral flange of said base and spaced from one another to interlock with intermediate rib portions merging with said Iiange.

3. A rubber mat adapted for connection with the base of a machine comprising a fiat relatively narrow rim portion adapted to engage the iioor beneath said base around the periphery thereof with the upper surface around the outer edge engaging the lower edge of a depending peripheral flange on said base, and upstanding boss portions ernbraced by said peripheral flange inwardly of the edge of said mat for maintaining said mat in the proper relation with respect to the base.

4. A rubber mat comprising a flat rim portion adapted to engage and underlie a peripheral flange depending from the base of an associated machine and a plurality of upstanding lugs inwardly of said rim portion adapted to engage the inner face of said flange and spaced to receive rib portions of the base therebetween to interlock the mat with said base.

5. In combination, a base for an exercising machine comprising an upper web portion relatively narrow at one end and formed for connection With a mechanism housing of said machine, widened at the other end and sloping away from said narrow portion to provide a platform for sup porting a patient undergoing treatment, the periphery of said web being formed With a depending ange, the web between said iiange bein rigidified by a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs depending therefrom intermediate the sides of said flange and intersected by a plurality of transversely extending rib portions disposed between the end portions of said peripheral flange, and a rubber mat comprising a flat rim portion engaging the lower edge of said peripheral flange and formed with a plurality of upstanding lug portions disposed inwardly of the rim portion and engaging the inner face of said flange, said lug portions being spaced from one another to embrace the rib portions of the base therebetween.

6. A base for an exercising machine comprising an upper web portion relatively narrow at one end and formed for connection with a mechanism housing of said machine, widened out at the other end to provide a platform for supporting a patient undergoing treatment, the periphery of said web being provided with a depending flange adapted to engage supporting means, the web between said peripheral flange being rigidifled by a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs depending therefrom intermediate the sides of said peripheral flange and intersected by a plurality of transversely extending rib portions disposed between the end portions of said peripheral iiange.

'7. In combination, a base for an exercising machine comprising an upper web portion relatively narrow at one end and formed for connection with a mechanism housing of said machine,

widened at the other end to provide a platform 'i' for supporting a patient undergoing treatment, the periphery of said web being formed with a depending flange, the web between said fiange being rigidiiied by a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs depending therefrom intermediate the sides of said ange and intersected by a plurality of transversely extending rib portions disposed between the end portions of said peripheral flange, and a rubber mat comprising a flat rim portion engaging the lower edge of said peripheral flange and formed with a plurality of upstanding lug portions disposed inwardly of the rim portion and engaging the inner face of said ange, said lug portions being spaced from one another to embrace the rib portions of the base therebetween.

WILLIAM ERASTUS SHARP. 

